Time-controlling mechanism for type-writing or other machines.



C. B. GORGORAN. TIME CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING OR OTHER MAOHINES.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAIN, 1909.

PatentedApr. 18,1911.

rni noun: rxruu ca. wAsmuanm, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS B. CORGORAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD AUTO- MATIC TYPEWRITER PAY STATION COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF NEW YORK.

TIME-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING OR OTHER MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18,, 1911.

Application filed May 24, 1909. Serial No. 497,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS B. ConooRAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in borough of Bronx, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlling Mechanism for Type-VVriting or other Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin-operated, time-controlled devices for limiting the use of typewriting and other machines or appa- -ratus, and is in the nature of an improvementupon the invention disclosed in United States application of Rice and Broughton, filed May 22, 1909. Said application discloses a typewriting machine normally out of condition for use, and means whereby by depositing a coin and operating a lever, the machine is put into condition for use for a period limited by a clockwork; and at the termination of said period, the typewriter or other machine is automatically locked or returned to normal condition, in which it cannot be manipulated. Said application also discloses a locking arm which normally holds in effective position the keylocking or line-locking bar of the Underwood typewriting machine, so as to prevent manipulation of the keys. Said arm can be turned to ineffective position by means of a lever after the deposit of a coin; and a latch connected to said lever is automatically set to restrain said lever, so that the typewriter remains in condition for manipulation, until a clockwork trips the latch after the use of the typewriting machine for half an hour or other interval; whereupon the parts are returned to normal condition, and the typewriter is again ,locked against manipulation. The latch which holds the locking arm out of use is supported independently of the clockwork or of any revolving part. It is desirable that said latch should be so constructed that it may be tripped very easily, so as to avoid the necessity of subjecting the clockwork to undue strain or restraint; and when the latch is so constructed it may sometines be liable to become accidentally tripped, owing to the jarring of the machine when in use or When being carried about.

The principal object of the present invention is to avoid this possible objection; and to that end, I provide a lock or device, which automatically moves into position to lock the latch agamst accidental tripping. This lock is released by the clockwork, to permit the latter to trip the latch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of a time-controlled coin-operated device of the character described, showing the positions of the parts at the approach of the completion of the half hour interval during which the typewriter may be operated; the typewriter locking arm being shown out of use, and the controlling wheel or head being rotated by the clockwork in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View showing the parts as having been immediately reset after the key-locking operation, to withdraw the key-locking bar and permit further operation of the type writin machine. Fig. 3 is an elevation to show the vibration of a tappet, which is pivoted on a latch, by means of a projection carried on a revolving head connected to the clockwork; such vibration of the latch having released the lock preparatory to tripping the latch. Fig. 4 is a similar .view to illustrate the tripping of the latch and the consequent movement of the parts to lock the typewriter keys, and also to unclutch the revolving head from the clockwork and lock the head against further rotation. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the parts in the same positions as at Fig. 1.

The type keys 1 of the typewriting machine are mounted upon levers 2,which have hooks 3 beneath which normally lies a stop bar i. Said bar is supported on arms 5 ris. ing from a rock-shaft 6 suitably mounted on the framework. The bar 4 forms part of a line-locking mechanism which looks the keys automatically at the completion of each line of writing in a well known manner, and it will be understood that it continues to perform its usual functions in the present case whenever the writing machine is put into condition for use by operation of the coincontrolled mechanism. In the present instance, use is made of the line-locking mechanism to put the typewriting machine normally out of condition for operation; the locking bar 4 for this purpose being normally held in effective position by a projection 8 provided upon a locking arm 9, the latter carried upon a rock shaft 10 forming part of a coin and time controlled apparatus, and extending into a casing 11 which contains said apparatus. Normally the locking arm 9 is in its forward dotted position, Fig. 1, to hold the locking bar 4 beneath the hooks 3 of the key levers, so that the keys cannot be manipulated. Upon the deposit of a coin, the locking arm 8 may be swung back to permit the locking bar 4 to be swung back on the arms 5 by means of a spring 12, thereby freeing the keys and putting the machine into condition for manipulation. The movement of the locking device 9 from dotted-line to full-line position to release the typewriter for use, is efiected by a fingerpiece 13, upon the operator depositing a coin 14 in a slot 15 formed in the top 16 of the casing 11. Before the coin is deposited, the finger piece 13 may rock idly, without having any effect on the machine; but the deposited coin serves temporarily to effect a connection for transmitting the movement of said handle 13 to the general mechanism in the casing. Said handle 13 is fixed upon a rock shaft 17; and upon the inner end of the latter is secured an upstanding arm 18 having at its top a notch or lip 19, upon which the deposited coin 14 rests for the purpose of performing its temporary function, aforesaid. Directly over said arm 18 and beneath the coin slot 15 is a coin-chute 20, in which the coin reposes while it rests upon said lip 19 of the arm 18. This chute serves as a holder or bearing for the coin,

' and enables the latter to effect the desired lever 21, in the same direction. The reason that this movement of the lever 21 cannot be effected without the coiiperation of the coin, is because the holder 20 is formed with an opening 22 in its face sufficient to permit the arm 19 to swing idly therethrough. The finger piece 13 is normally held back by a spring 23, but after the deposit of a coin the finger-piece swings the lever 21, and during this stroke, a link 26, pivoted at its upper end to an arm 27 of the lever 21 and at its lower end to a horizontal lever or arm 28, serves to depress the latter about its fulcrum 29. This arm 28 controls the typewriter locking device 9. It will be seen that the shaft 10, carrying said arm 9, is provided within the casing with an upright crank 30 having at its top a wrist 31, which is caused by a spring 32 to press against the end of the arm 28, the latter hence normally locking the arm 9 in the dotted line position at Fig. 1. Then, however, said arm 28 is swung down in the manner just described, the wrist 31 rides off from the'end of the arm 28 and along a cam or'beveled edge 33 thereon, so that the spring 32 is permitted to swing the locking arm 9 to ineffective position, thus releasing the typewriter for manipulation. A spring 34 connected to the coincontrolled lever 21, 27 tends constantly to lift the arm 28 to normal position, as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1; but said arm 28 is latched down in abnormal position by means of a latch 35 pivoted at 36. The period during which said arm 28 is latched down (and during which the typewriting machine is in condition for manipulation) is limited by a clockwork 37. A pin 28 projecting from the side of arm 28 normally occupies a notch or one of two notches 38 and 38 formed in a head or disk 48 which is mounted loosely upon an arbor 40 of the clockwork. At Fig. 4, the projection 28 is shown in normal position in one of the notches as 38; while at Fig. 1, it is shown as pulled down from the notch and held down by the latch 35. After the finger-piece 13 has been turned to latch down the arm 28, said finger-piece may be released, and the spring 23 will return it to normal position, together with the arm 18 having the coin-support 19. The coin-operated lever 21, 27 remains stationary, because of its connection to the latched arm 28; and upon withdrawal of the arm 18, the coin 14 drops into a receptacle (not shown).

Upon the head 48 is pivoted at 50 a springpressed pawl 51, which engages the ratchet 52 fixed upon the clockarbor 40 which makes a complete revolution once every half hour. The spring which presses said pawl into the ratchet is indicated at 51 The pin 28 on the arm 28 is made long enough to engage a releasing arm 54 of the pawl 51 at the upstroke of said arm 28, whereby said pawl is withdrawn from the ratchet 52 (Fig. 4) to permit the clock to continue in operation while the typewriting machine is locked out of use.

An auxiliary lever or arm 55 pivoted at 56 upon the framework and geared at 57 to the arm 28, has a projection 58 to release the pawl 51; said pawl being released consecutively by the main arm 28 and the auxiliary arm 55, to withdraw said pawl from the ratchet twice in each revolution of the head 48. The projections 28 and 58 therefore serve to disconnect the head 48 from the clockwork and to lock the head against accidental rotation, by reason of their engage ment with the notches 38 and 38. A similar pawl 51 having a releasing arm 51, may be pivoted at 51 upon the latch wheel head 48 diametrically opposite to the pawl 51, to be released consecutively by the projections 28 58; the two pawls being therefore released simultaneously at each operation. A draw-spring 59 may be connected between levers 28 and 55.

The arm 28 is provided with a shoulder 60, and the latch 35 (pivoted at 36 upon the auxiliary arm 55) has preferably a roll 61 normally caught upon said shoulder, Figs. 1, 2 and 3. A projection 62 provided upon the revolving head 48 strikes the cam edge 63 of a trip 64;, which is pivoted at 65 upon the latch 35 and provided with a counterweight 66. The movement of the trip (it upon its pivot is limited by a pin (37 playing between lower and upper stops 68 and (39 provided upon the latch 35. The pin (32 on the revolving head turns the latch idly down from the position at Fig. 1 to the position at Fig. 3; and since the trip can turn no more about its pivot 65 during the continued downward movement of the pin 62, the latter cams both trip 64 and latch 35 to the right from the position at Fig. 3 until the roll 61 runs off from the shoulder (50, and the arms 28 and 55 collapse under the tension of the springs 34 and 59, which cause them to resume their normal positions, releasing the pawls 51 and 51, and locking the head 48 against turning as at Fig. 1. The latch 35 is retained against accidental releasing movement by means of a gravity tumbler or lock 70 pivoted upon the same screw 56 which fulcrums the arm 55.

Upon inserting a coin and turning the handle 13 to the right, the levers 18 and 21 are swung together, and the link 26 is depressed, thus forcing down the arm 28 and permitting the latch 35 to swing to the left from the position at Fig. at to that at Fig. 1, thus locking down the arm 28 and locking up the auxiliary arm 55. The latch 35 is moved by gravity to the position at Fig. 1; and its motion is arrested by a stop 74 adjacent to the shoulder 60. The pawls 51 and 51 swing into engagement with the rotating ratchet 52 of the clockwork, and the head 48is slowly revolved. It will be understood that the latch 35, which may of course be moved by gravity or otherwise, is incapable of stirring from the normal Fig. 4 position, unless something is done by the operator to cause such movement. To cause the motion of said latch, the operator deposits a coin, and then turns the handle 13 in the direction of the arrow, thus driving down the arm 27 and link 26, and forcing down the arm 28 and lifting the arm 55. This operation is the occasion or cause of the latch 35 swinging or gravitating from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 5 position. The rotatable head or device 418 is normally disconnected from the clockwork. The mechanism controlled by the finger piece 13 includes means 51 and 51 to connect said head 48 to said clockwork to be rotated thereby; said finger piece 13 also operating the head-releasing members 28 and 55 and the latch 35, and causing the latter to retain the members 28 and 55 in ineffective positions. Said latch, as seen at Fig. 5, is locked against movement from effective position, the locking being effected by the tumbler 70. The head 48 has means 62 and (12 to release and trip said latch 35, as above described, thereby permitting the head-releasing members 28 and 55 to move to Fig, 4 position. The members 28 and 55, by means of said finger. piece, are moved from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 5 position, to cause the restoration of the latch 35 to effective position; and the manually controlled mechanism also includes the tumbler 7O, which, by upward movement of the arm and latch 35 and pin 71, is raised until the roll (51 falls into the notch (50, whereupon the tumbler 70 falls on pin 71 and locks it. In half an hour, it completes half a revolution, and a pin (32 (diametrically opposite from the pin (32) engages the trip (3 1 and turns it from the Fig. 1 position to the Fig. 3 position, thus lifting the gravity lock 70 from a pin 71 provided on the latch 35, whereby the latter is prevented from accidental movement of]? from the shoulder 60. The lock 70 is thus lifted above the pin 71, and continued downward movement of the pin 62 swings aside the latch and causes arms 28 and to collapse, again releasing the head 18 from the clockwork, and relocking the head against rotation. On the downward movement of the arm 28, the wrist 31 is permitted by the cam to turn to the right, thereby permitting the bar 4 to release the typewriter keys 1.

It will be noted that the manuallycontrolled mechanism includes the finger-piece or button 13, the main function of which is, first, to connect the head 1-8 to the clockwork, and second, to move the movable device 3ft to the full line ineffective position at Fig.

At Fig. 1 the lock 70 is shown resting on the pin 71. hen the arm 28 is pressed down by the finger-piece 13, and the latch 35 gravitates to the Fig. 1 position, the

lock 70 falls down behind the pin 71, to

lock the same; the parts remaining in this position until the stop pin 67 on the trip (34. lifts the lock 70 by means of a catch 72 formed thereon (Fig. 3).

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head or device normally disconnected therefrom, manually controlled mechanism to connect said head to said clockwork to be rotated thereby, said manually controlled mechanism including both a head-releasing member and a latch to retain said releasing member in ineffective position; said head having means to trip said latch, to render said releasing member effective, a lock for said latch, and means to release said lock.

2. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head or device normally disconnected therefrom, and manually controlled mecha nism including means to connect said head to said clockwork tobe rotated thereby, said manually controlled mechanism including both a head-releasing member and a latch to retain said releasing member in ineifective position, a lock to hold said latch in effective position, said head having means to release said lock and trip said latch, to render said releasing member eflective, means being included in said manually controlled mechanism to control the restoration of said latch to effective position and the movement of said lock to effective position.

3. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head or device normally disconnected therefrom, manually-controlled mechanism including means to connect said head to said clockwork to be rotated thereby; said man uallycontrolled mechanism including a head-releasing member; a latch to retain said releasing member in ineffective position; a lock for said latch; said head having means to release said lock and trip said latch, to render said releasing member effective and thereby disconnect the head from the clockwork; a manually operable machine; a movable device normally preventing manipulation of said machine; and means for controlling the movement of said movable device to ineffective position so that it will occur simultaneously with the connection of the head to the clockwork.

4. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head normally disconnected there from, a clutch for connecting the clockwork to the head to rotate the latter, an arm to control said clutch, a manually operable device to move said arm, whereby said clutch may be closed, a spring tending to move said arm to cause the opening of said clutch, a latch movable at the operation of said manually operable device to a position to lock said arm against actuation by said spring, a projection upon said head, a pivoted trip on said latch to be caused by said projection to trip said latch to release said arm, and a lock to prevent accidental tripping of said latch; said trip having means to release said lock.

5. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head normally disconnected therefrom, a clutch for connecting the clockwork to the head to rotate the latter, an arm to control said clutch, a manually operable device to move said arm to control the closing of said clutch, a spring tending to move said arm to open said clutch, a latch movable by said manually operable device to a position to lock said arm against actuation by said spring, a device for automatically locking said latch in effective position, means upon said head to release said lock and trip said latch to release said arm, a machine, and

means normally preventing manipulation of said machine and connected to be moved by said manually operable device to ineffective position at the clutch-closing operation.

6. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head normally disconnected therefrom, releasable means to connect said head to said clockwork, an arm, a spring or means tending to move said arm in a direction to release said head from said clockwork, a manually operable device for setting said arm in the opposite direction, a latch to detain said arm when so set, a lock for the latch, a tappet, and a trip cooperating with said tappet to enable the head, when driven by the clockwork, to trip the latch; said tappet having a yielding construction to permit said arm to be set back and latched, and also having means to release said lock.

7 The combination with a clockwork having a ratchet, of a head to turn about the axis of rotation of the ratchet, a pawl pivoted on said head to engage the ratchet to turn said head, said pawl normally disconnected from the ratchet, a pair of arms mounted upon the framework to engage said pawl at either of two points in the travel of the wheel, means connecting said arms to cause them to move together, means tending to move said arms to release the pawl, a latch to hold said. arms away from the pawl, a lock for said latch, a trip on said arm, and a projection upon said head to engage said trip to trip the latch; the trip having a yielding construction to permit the arms to be reset and latched, and also having means to release said lock to permit the latch to be tripped.

8. The combination of a clockwork, a rotatable head normally disconnected therefrom, means to clutch said head to said clockwork, a manually operable arm or member to control said clutch, a spring or means tending to move said arm in a direction to release the clutch, means independent of said rotatable head for restraining said arm, a lock for said restraining means, and means dependent upon the rotation of the head for releasing said lock and also releasing said machine, a movable device, a manually open able arm having means to control the movement of said movable device to ineffective position, a spring to cause said movable device to move to ineffective position, a spring tending to return said arm, a latch to restrain said arm, a support for said latch, a lock for said latch, a clockwork, and a re volving member connected to said clockwork and having means to release said lock 10 and trip said latch from said support, to permit said arm to restore said movable de vice and render said manipulable machine inoperable.

CORNELIUS B. CORCORAN. lVitnesses:

J 01m 0. SEIFERT, K. FRANKFORT.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

